SATURDAY will see two AFLW stalwarts in Karen Paxman and Emma Kearney go head-to-head in their highest stakes game yet – a preliminary final.

Arguably the two most consistent performers across the seven seasons of the competition, North Melbourne skipper Kearney, 33, is in the running for a record seventh All-Australian nod, while Melbourne veteran Paxman (34 in two weeks) is up for her sixth.

The two may even spend some time directly playing on each other, having shifted positions from their inside midfield roles as younger players have made their way into their respective teams.

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Kearney has been to the top of the mountain before, playing a key role in the Western Bulldogs' 2018 triumph before crossing to the Roos for their first season the following year.

She's now a powerful half-back flanker, capable of changing the game with one damaging run down the ground.

Paxman came painfully close, part of Melbourne's team that fell short earlier this year, losing the Grand Final to an all-conquering Adelaide.

The Dee – who now adopts a bandage pre-match to protect a still-healing scar on her forehead – uses her dynamism in a forward-wing role, rotating around to keep fresh legs as part of Melbourne's high octane gameplan.

"I feel pretty good. I feel like I've got a few more seasons in me, I'll reassess at the end of the year and go from there, but feeling good," Paxman said.

Kearney suffered an unfortunate knee injury late in the round nine win over Collingwood in a collision with an over-exuberant teammate in Vikki Wall, sitting out round 10 but returning – heavily bandaged – as part of a resilient defence in a last-gasp win over Geelong.

Attending a press conference on Tuesday ahead of the prelim, the knee was still strapped.

"It's good, it's pulling up better every game, so fingers crossed it will come good on the weekend," Kearney said.

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"Nah, absolutely not (a chance of missing finals), you know me, I'm competitive as, so it was just going to be a one-weeker. It would have been nice if we'd finished top four, to have that extra week to give it a rest, but nup, no way I'm missing finals."

It's a steelier North Melbourne this season, having pushed Melbourne, Adelaide and Brisbane right to the wire, and standing firm in the face of fierce pressure from Collingwood, Geelong and Richmond.

"Previous seasons we've been knocked out in elimination finals, so to be able to get the win against Cats, it released a bit of pressure and we got the game looking how we wanted to against Richmond," Kearney said.

"Previously, we've been around the mark, but we felt like we couldn't match it with those top teams. 

"This season, I think given our list changes, we feel like we've added a different dynamic into our forward line in particular, getting more experience into our younger players, and that's put us in a really good position to be able to mix it with some of the best."

Melbourne got the win the last time these sides met, Alyssa Bannan saluting to seal a two-point victory in round two at the MCG.

"Each time we play North, it's a fiery and heated contest, so there's a lot of learnings to come out of that game, and reflecting on our own game, not too sure when it was, but earlier in the season (round two), I think fundamentally we were a little bit off," Paxman said.

"I think compared to when we started the season to now, we've taken a lot of confidence in our growth. I think a lot of that's come from a mindset standpoint, we've been doing a lot of mindset work over the past few seasons, and I think that's coming into fruition now. For us, it's controlling what we can control, and the rest should hopefully take care of itself.

"We've certainly identified that's an important part of our game, for us to be in a good mindset and controlling what we can control, because as we know in footy, there's so much that's out of our control, that's certainly been a focus this season and in particular in the past few weeks."

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Kearney also took a bigger-picture view out of the match, saying it helped build the belief the season has been based on.

"I reckon the biggest thing for us, coming from that game, was our ability to match it with those big three clubs, Melbourne being one of the best in the comp," she said.

"For us, in previous seasons, we've really doubted our ability to match it with them. I reckon that gave us belief. They've probably improved since round two, (and) we've seen enormous growth in our players since round two. 

"Vikki Wall was just playing her second game, Taylah Gatt, Tess Craven, Bella Eddey, all very inexperienced players are now more experienced coming into this finals campaign, which will be good for them."

While both players were firmly fixed on Saturday's contest, the ultimate prize is tantalisingly close.

"It's a massive part of what we play for. But again, what I think we've identified in our group this season is fulfilment, playing to be fulfilled," Paxman said.

"Certainly part of it is the premiership cup, but we want to go out there every week and have fun together as well, because we know when we're out there having fun, we're playing our best footy. But obviously we're wanting that cup in our hands, but what we can control is this weekend against the Roos."

Unsurprisingly, the fiercely determined Kearney was slightly more resolute in her language.

"We're here to win premierships, that's always the motivation, that's always going to be a little carrot. You see the premiership cup, every team wants to win it, it's not just us and Melbourne," she said.

"Yep, absolutely use it as motivation, but we know we just need to play our best footy, and if we can do that, we know we can get the job done."